The churches here below, so narrow bound

The “churches” here below

so narrow bound

Reach not the hungry throngs which us surround;

They run partway with truth

but miss the goal.

Earth-vision blurred and dim

their eyes doth hold—

But broken gleams have they of radiance gold;

Too dazzling is the splendor of the whole.

Brothers with brothers have not all one heart

In wrath they turn away and walk apart

Who from one stream of life had common birth.

What fight for forms! O’er doctrines what vain strife!

Instead together sharing God’s one life

Who worshipped is by heaven and by earth.

“Where is the truth?” I asked; for this I longed:

None answered right ’mid all the answering throng;

For ever side by side lay light and shade.

“Where is

” I cried

“the one communion pure?

Where is the Church in which

clear-traced and sure

The Spirit’s very likeness is portrayed?”

So sought I long

and hopeless was my quest;

These eyes grew dim and blind and found no rest

Till God’s touch opened them

and I was freed.

I found the Spirit’s Church in souls made one

In this

that they in troth to Christ had come—

His Bride

to follow where the cross may lead.

Thus when I see this small world’s narrow thought

Behold the brother not with brother brought

Yet serving Christ—as each one deemeth right—

Ah

then a voice from realms of glory calls

Where the last veil is rent and earthward falls

And where God’s love

eternal

burneth bright.

No more we put that query without end

To which self-chosen church our feet did trend—

What doctrines we believed

what sacred rites.

In Christ we were in bonds that nought could break;

Who

by His cross and death

do all forsake

Such as were far asunder He unites.

No longer does one heed mere formal phrase

Or seek for others’ creeds through winding maze

For in Himself was truth made manifest.

And out of every tongue and every land

He formed one Church to meet His own demand—

His Body

where His fulness is expressed.